Demolition crews began tearing down Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla. on Wednesday, March 18, marking a significant step toward the creation of a permanent memorial honoring the 49 killed in the 2016 mass shooting.
On June 12, 2016, a gunman who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group opened fire during a Latin night celebration, killing dozens and wounding 53 others before police killed him in a standoff. The tragedy sent shockwaves across the nation and became a defining moment in conversations about gun violence, terrorism and LGBTQ safety.
In the years since, the site has served as an informal memorial, with visitors leaving flowers, photos and messages of love and solidarity. In 2023, the city of Orlando formally purchased the Pulse property, committing to a $12 million plan to build a permanent memorial and museum space to preserve the stories of the victims and survivors. The memorial, expected to open in 2027, aims to provide a place for reflection, education and healing, while ensuring the legacy of those lost is never forgotten.
The plan for the memorial comes at a fraught time for monuments to LGBTQ history. The federal government amidst the Trump administration removed a pride flag outside of Stonewall National Monument last year, following a National Park Service memo that prohibits the agency from flying any flags besides the Star Spangled Banner and the flag of the Department of the Interior.
A similar battle happened in Orlando in 2025, when local officials clashed with Republican Governor Ron DeSantis because workers painted over a rainbow mural on the crosswalk in front of Pulse.
The move came after the Florida Department of Transportation issued a memo that prohibited “surface art” associated with “social political or ideological messages or images that do not serve the purpose of traffic control.”
